Recessed lighting fixture



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REcEssEp LIGHTING FIXTURE oef. 21, 195s Filed oct. 26, 195e 2 Sheets-Sheet l IAWENTORl Ulla/f /QL/GMA/v Ivillu "grn, in

oct. 21, 195s J. KLUGMAN RECESSED LIGHTING FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

'Filed 001'.. 26, 1956 IN VEN TOR. JA :ff KAL/@MAN United States Patent RECESSED LIGHTING FIXTURE Jack Klugman, Havertown, Pa.

Application October 26, 1956, Serial No. 618,465

2 Claims. (Cl. 240-78) My invention relates to a lighting fixture and junction box and more particularly relates to a lighting fixture which is adapted to be recessed into a wall wherein all parts are concealed with the exception of the light transmitting diffuser.

The usual recessed lighting xture comprises a housing with a removable glass diffuser element wherein the housing itself is arranged to be recessed into a wall, ceiling or floor. Since the conventional housing is mounted entirely behind the surface structure of the Wall, ceiling or floor, the wiring to the fixture is concealed and inaccessible except through the opening covered by the removable diffuser element. Furthermore, the housing itself in ordinary operation is raised to a relatively high temperature by the lamp confined therein, and it is desirable to protect the junction box and wiring connection from full exposure to that heat. At the same time, it is desirable to make the junction box and wiring connections accessible through the opening in the housing afl'orded by the removal of the diffuser element.

It is therefore, an object of my invention to construct a recessed lighting fixture and junction box wherein its construction permits accessibility to the entire junction box when it becomes necessary to inspect or rewire.

Another object of my invention is to provide a recessed lighting fixture wherein means are provided for affording accessibility to the junction box itself without withdrawing the latter through the opening of its housmg.

Another object of my invention is to provide a recessed lighting fixture wherein means are afforded for arranging the junction box accessibility either upward or downward to enable original installation wiring from above or below.

Another object of my invention is to provide a recessed lighting xture wherein accessibility of the wiring within the junction box is available should it be desired to mount conduit upon the junction box.

Another object of my invention is to provine a recessed lighting fixture wherein the junction box as well as the means for permitting access to the junction box may be removed from the housing if it should so be desired.

Another object of my invention is to provide a recessed lighting fixture wherein its associated junction box and wiring is protected from direct heat radiation from the lampwithin the housing.

Another object of my invention is to provide a recessed lighting fixture wherein the associated junction box remains effectively cool during continuous use.

Other objects of my invention are to provide an irnproved device of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly effective in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, my invention consists in the details of construction and cornbination of parts, as will be more fully understood from Patented Oct. 21, 1958` the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, and partly exploded, of a recessed lighting fixture embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the recessed lighting fixture with the bracket assembly partly removed.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the bracketassembly showing the details of its construction.

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the recessed lighting fixture showing the junction box arranged to be wired from below during installation and removable from within the box after installation.

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the recessed lighting fixture wherein the junction box is arranged to be Wired with conduit.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawing in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, l show a recessed lighting fixture comprising a housing generally designated as A, a junction box generally designated as B, and a radiation deflecting bracket, generally designated as C.

The housing A is a formed sheet metal box having marginal flange means at 12, apertured to receive mounting screws for connecting it with the ceiling or other wall surface; A light cover and diffusing member 14, having a transparent plate of glass or plastic 16 surrounded by a finishing plate or bezel 18 is detachably secured to the housing A whereby the flange portion 12 of the box may be eflectivelyicovered by the bezel 18. It is to be noted that the detachable relationship of the diffuser is accomplished by a spring 20 having opposed resilient legs which are slidably engaged within a bracket 22 in the housing for this purpose. The springs 20 enable both a hinged and detachable engagement of the diffuser element to enable removal of the light diffusing member for changing of the light bulb and for gaining access to the wiring as more further described hereinafter.

An opening 24 is provided in the side of the housing for passage of and securement of the junction box B which is disposed externally of the housing and mounted therein within the periphery of the opening. The junction box B comprises a conventional formed metal box 30 having a cover plate 32. One wall of the junction box is open and has a pair of flanges 34 which are adapted to engage an internal wall of the housing adjacent the opening 24. The flange 34 is apertured at 36 and 33 to receive mounting studs 40, the set of holes 36 being arranged so that the junction box B may be set in position to be wired from below during original installation. The mounting studs 40 each comprise oppositely disposed threaded ends 40A extending from a central head portion 40B. The alternative set of holes 38 are arranged to enable the junction box to be rotated in a position for Wiring from above. Thus, when the lighting fixture is originally secured between the rafters of a ceiling, the electricians have the option of wiring from the floor above or through the ceiling below if one or the other should be closed in. In Figs. l, 2 and 4, sheet metal nuts 41 are mounted over'holes 42 adjacent the marginal edges of the housing A surrounding opening 24. The metal nuts 41 are each U-shaped in configuration and have a pair of flat arms 41A extending from a close bight portion 41B. One end of each stud 40 is passed through an opening 36 in the flange 34 of the junction box and is threaded into a corresponding sheet metal nut 41 by tightening the shoulder of the stud. The other end of each stud 40 is available for coupling the bracket C with nuts 43, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The bracket C comprises a panel 44 which normally' closes the opening 24, but which when removed exposes the opening to provide access to the junction box interiorly from within the h ousing A. The panel 44 hasa pair of' holes 46 therein which are adapted to slip over the mounting screws 40 whereby it may be fastened to the housing and Securedthereto over the junction box by means of the nuts 43. Unitarily secured to the back Vof the panel 44 and mounted normal thereto is a conduit 48 having a bale plate 50 aixed to its rearward end thereof. The conduit 48 and baille plate 5@ extend within the junction box when `the panel "SLE- is fixed in its ordinary position to the interior o fthe housing and the bracket member C is independently mounted from the junction box B. A lamp socket 54 is mounted on the paney 44 and is movable unitarily therewith and disposed `within thehousing A.

BX cable y60 is fastened by means of the usual connector 62 to the junction box through one or more of appropriate knockouts 63, which it approaches from the opposite side of the housing A. Wires 64 and 65 which pass through the cable 60 have their free ends connected within the junction box B with wires 68, 70 respectively by porcelain wire connectors 69. These wires 68 and 70 pass through the conduit 48 and are permanently wired to theA lamp socket 54.

When it is desired to inspect or rewire the recessed lighting fixture, the dilfuser element 14 is removed to expose the interior of the housing A. a The nuts 43 which connect the bracket C to the end wall of the housing A are then removed and the entire assembly C is free to be pulledinto and through the housing A. It is thus to be observed that the interior of the junction box is accessible to permit inspection therein. It is also easily apparent that the entire junction box B may be withdrawn through the opening 24 and drawn into the interior of the housing together with its cable connections if it is so desired. After the junction box has passed through the opening 24 to and beyond the end wall, it is fully exposed, and if the slack in the cable permits the box it may be pulled completely out through the diffuser element opening.

By reverse reassembly of the parts, the junction box and the bracket C may be remounted within the housing A with equal facility in the position shown in Fig. 1, whereupon a lamp may be replaced and the diffuser element reapplied to the housing.

The manner of assembly hereinbefore described is applied to the junction box wherein it is adapted to be removed from within the housing A after the installation is completed. In Fig. 5, I show a modification wherein the assembly adapted for use in the junction box B is permanently coupled to external conduit. Under these circumstances, since the coupling of the junction box to the external conduit is permanent, it is impossible to remove the junction box from inside the housingA. Under these circumstances my invention provides for the lowering of the entire housing A by uncoupling the junction box from within. Thus the sheet metal nuts 4l are mounted upon the flanges 34 of the junction box and the studs 40 pass through the openings 36 and are secured by threading into the nuts 41. Under these circumstances, the llange 34 does not pass through the housing, but is mounted externally thereto. The manner of mounting the radiation bracket C is identical to the assembly of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 through 4 inclusive. However, when it is desired to obtain access to the wire concealed within the ceiling, the studs 40 are removed entirely from within, and the housing A is t pulled downward through its opening in the ceiling leaving junction box still assembled to its conduit.

Although my invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to` be determined as claimed.

l claim as my invention:

l. in a recessed lighting fixture having a wall with an opening therein, a junction box having an'open end with outwardly projecting anges, Va plurality of U-shaped nuts, each having a pair of at adjacent arms extending from a closed bight portion, and a like plurality of studs, each having oppositely disposed threaded ends extending from a central head portion, the arms of each of said nuts embracing the junction box flanges therebetween about a respective aperture therein, said flanges being disposed adjacent the exterior surface of said fixture, and

each of said studs having one threaded end passing through a respective hole in said wall and threadedly` engaging the respective nut, the head portion of said nut abutting the interior surface of said wall with the closed end of said junction box exteriorly extending from said lixture, said nuts being further adapted in the alternative to embrace said wall about the respective holes therein. and the flanges of said junction box being adapted to abut the interior surface of said wall, said studs then being adapted to pass through respective apertures in the flanges and to threadedly engage such nuts with the head portion of each of said studs abutting the flange of said junction box whereby said junction box may be detachably connected selectively upon said Wall respectively upon the exterior surface thereof to permit withdrawing of the fixture from said junction box when the latter` is xedly attached to a cable within a ceiling or, in the alternative,- upon the interior surface of said wall to permit withdrawing of said junction box into the interior of the fixture.

' 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein a heat insulating bracket is detachably mounted about the fixture opening, said bracket comprising a panel detachably se-` cured to said wall, upon the free ends of said studs and defining a closure for the opening, a lamp socket` mounting thereof, to heat insulate connections made` therein with said lead wires.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,701,299 Florence Feb. 1, 1955 2,701,840 Carlson Feb. 8, 1955 2,717,955 Schwemmer et al. Sept; 13, 1955V 2,767,307 McGinty et al. Oct. 16, 1956 

